Fishing Season: Year - round

Uncompahgre River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

46

Montrose Anglers's Tip of the Week

Flows have bumped up and fish are starting to settle in. Fishing a tightline rig is the most effective tactic on this stretch. Fish your smaller bugs on light tippet to get a good accurate drift in the feeding zone. Leading with a small leech pattern is a good move, followed by a small midge or baetis pattern, brown or tan has putting fish in the net. Using 5x and 6x fluorocarbon will allow you to be stealthy and present your flies naturally.

Directions open in app

Map of Uncompahgre River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service

5-Day Outlook as of 5/5/25

Getting better each day, Fishing will stay consistent. Sight fishing will be the name of the game, so stay stealthy and tactical. Midges, baetis, micro leeches, eggs, and worms.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/5/25

Small light nymph rigs, make sure you get it in the zone, add small split shot and adjust indicator depth as needed to get the right drift.

Local Species Available Year - round

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    Rainbow

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    Brown

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    Snake River Cutthroat

Montrose Anglers's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
TH Zebra Midge Black or Olive #22-24
Rojo Midge Red #22-24
Hairwing Western Green Drake N/A #18-24
Bead Head Barr Emerger black #18-24
Demon Midge Red #22-26
Black Beauty Black #20-24
Tungsten Jig Bugger White #12-14
Double Bunny Black #08-14
Frenchie Brown #16-20
Sidewinder emerger Olive #22-26

TH Zebra Midge

A handy midge fly pattern for stillwater.

2.49

Item #1X94

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Montrose Anglers's Recommended Gear

Description: About Uncompahgre River

Ridgway State Park is located four miles north of Ridgway and 26 miles south of Montrose, Colorado. As late as mid-July, the north face of the San Juan Mountains still holds snow and as it melts, it eventually flows into Lake Como north of Silverton, at 12,221 feet in southwestern Colorado. From here, the Uncompahgre is born and runs north 75 miles to enter the Gunnison River in Delta. The Park holds many fishing and recreational opportunities, such as hiking, biking, boating, and camping; not to mention the bounty of scenic beauty that rivals any destination in the Colorado Rockies. Ridgway Reservoir is stocked with Rainbow Trout and packed with Wild Brown and Cutthroat Trout, as well as Kokanee Salmon deeper in the lake. The reservoir is approximately 1,000 acres and there is a 1.5 mile-long section of river above and below the reservoir. Seven dollars gives you access to this recreational paradise but the real fishing gem is the tail waters below the reservoir called Pa-co-chu-puk. The dam release regulates flow and temperature, creating an excellent tail water fishery with trophy size fish. Pa-co-chu-puk, which translates to mean Cow Creek in the UTE Indian language, holds Rainbows, large Browns, and Cutthroats that take imitations of the various insect and terrestrial populations that live in and around this stretch of fly fishing heaven. This creek enters the Uncompahgre River at the lower end of the Paco-chu-pak section of tail water. The entrance to Paco-chu-puk is just below the reservoir off Hwy. 550 and there is plenty of parking. For further information on this area contact us at (970) 209-0408 or visit our website at MontroseAnglers.com

Nearest Airport:

Montrose Airport

Hatches:

Midges (#20-26), Baetis/BWO imitations (#20 and smaller), Caddis, Drakes, Cahills

Best Time to Fish:

Mid morning to late afternoon

Best Stretch:

The 1.5 miles of tailwater below Ridgeway Reservoir (Pa-co-chu-puk).

Best Access:

The Pa-co-chu-puk turn, off of hwy 550.